Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he set himself the target of reaching 100 Champions League goals this season, and claimed he 'always believed' he would reach the milestone before Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo reached the landmark during Madrid's quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich, and the Portuguese is currently nine goals clear of his Barcelona rival having notched a hat-trick against the Bavarians.

Having reached 100, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder scored another hat-trick in the first leg of the semi-final win over Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu - and Ronaldo has never doubted himself.

Cristiano Ronaldo was convinced he would become the first to 100 Champions League goals

Ronaldo is one shy of Lionel Messi's 11 Champions League goals in this year's competition

'I always believed I would be the first player in Champions League history to score 100 goals,' he told UEFA ahead of a Champions League final clash with Juventus.

'I did it. It was a goal that I set myself at the beginning of the season and, thanks to God, I achieved it. I would obviously like to thank all my team-mates, the coach, all the staff and all the Real Madrid fans.'

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Ronaldo, who has scored 40 goals in all competitions this season, will look to add to the 103 goals to his name when he lines up for Madrid against the Old Lady at the Principality Stadium on Saturday night.

The 32-year-old is targeting the fourth Champions League trophy of his career in Cardiff, and Real manager Zinedine Zidane has heaped praise on his talisman on the eve of the encounter.

Zinedine Zidane embraces Cristiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid won the La Liga title

Ronaldo will hope to add a third Champions League title in four years on Saturday night

Ronaldo tests his close control during training ahead of the Champions League final

Asked at a pre-match press conference who would have been better had the two men played in the same era, legendary French forward Zidane said: 'Ronaldo, no doubt.

'He scores goals and that's most important.

'I used to play quite well but scoring goals was not my speciality. I was better at assists. I scored some important goals but not as many as him.'